Maddy frowned and leaned back in her chair once again. Writing was proving to be more difficult today than it had in quite some time. Detective Sharp was more interested in hunting through someone's garbage cans for clues than he was in Miss Sally's pretty brown eyes and stunning figure. While that was good for her principal storyline, it did nothing to further the romantic subplot that had been running through her mind since Miss Sally first hurried through her living room to answer the front door. Miss Sally had been searching for someone like him to be a friend, confidant, partner, and lover for her entire life, and the good Detective was just traipsing along obliviously.

With a low growl, she pushed herself away from the desk and decided that a good strong cup of tea was in order. Thinking that maybe some fresh air would help, she spent a few moments opening every window in her small cabin and propping doors open while the water heated. When that was completed, she made some lunch and then returned to work. There had to be a way to get Detective Sharp to at least look at Miss Sally as more than an especially astute and surprisingly witty housewife with whom he was forced to share the details of a murder investigation.

The days had been unseasonably cool for the middle of May, and the breeze drifting through the house brought with it the light scent of impending rain. Wanting to experience it closer, Maddy shut down her laptop, gathered up her notebook and the few notes she had taken along with her travel mug of tea to take out onto the covered porch. The wood felt cool and worn beneath her bare feet and the first few drops of rain made tiny galaxies along the front walk.

Looking out over her tiny front yard to the woods beyond, Maddy grinned. Setting everything down and shedding her clothes, she shifted and gave a short howl of joy. Dodging trees and skipping along the rocks of a shallow stream, her mind cleared as she hurtled through the forest.

Hours later, after redressing and working well past time for dinner, Maddy was contemplating her choices for food when her cellphone chimed brightly from its spot on the counter. Closing the refrigerator, she crossed the room and scooped it up. Seeing Lyssa's name on the screen, she swiped to bring up the text.

So glad that shit's over! Nothing like losing a whole month of your life twice a year!

Maddy found herself nodding as she opened the freezer to look over its contents before she typed out a quick answer. Yeah, I know what you mean. It always takes me one to two weeks for the heat itself and then at least a week to recover completely.

And, Lyssa returned, it's not like they just let you live at one of the sanctuaries.

Maddy snorted and grabbed a frozen pizza. Be so much easier if they did, though. Thought you had work tonight?

What do you think I'm doing? I work at a gas station. Nooooooot like it's rocket science, babe.

Maddy got her pizza in the oven before responding. Only because you would get too bored otherwise, and a bored Omega is no one's idea of a good time. I still say you should sell some of your photos, but what do I know?

A few seconds later, Maddy's phone lit up with a call, and she laughed while answering.

"Alright, smartass," Lyssa's voice was full of warmth. "How do you propose I do this?"

Maddy shrugged. "Start looking at those magazines you like so much and start from there. I mean, it's not like the pictures of birds or buildings or people all just appear out of nowhere."

"I'll think about it," Lyssa sighed.

"Good. Life is too short to be that unhappy."

"Speaking of things that make me happy . . . How much do you like me?"

"Meh, you're alright."

Lyssa laughed quietly. "Well, do you like me enough to go into Pittsburgh with me one day next month?"

Maddy shrugged, even though he friend couldn't see. "I don't mind the city at all most of the time. Pittsburgh isn't like some other places."

"Well ain't that the truth!" Lyssa agreed wholeheartedly. "As long as no one is bothering anyone else, everyone is pretty chill."

"Yep. So, what did you need company in the city for?"

"Well, one of my regulars got tickets to Raw on the 10th, but they can't go because of some work thing, so they sold them to me for face value. Want to come with?"

"Honey, I haven't watched wrestling in at least a decade!"

Lyssa made a disbelieving sound. "Girl, you are missing out on some grade A Alpha male man meat! C'mon, it'll be fun."

Maddy giggled at her friend's antics. "You can't guarantee that."

"Oh, yes I can! We're talking abs for daaaaaaays!"

"I'm not all that enthralled by abs."

Lyssa laughed. "Pick a body part and we'll find you one."

"Again; I haven't watched wrestling in years."

"Then you should totally start so you can get caught up on stories and who to root for!"

Knowing she wasn't going to get out of this, and not being sure she really wanted to anyway, Maddy surrendered. "What time would you want to leave?"

"Well, the doors open at 7:00, but we could totally just head into the city early and get dinner and a drink beforehand."

"Do you want to drive down that morning and then all the way back here after? We wouldn't get in until after, like, 2:00AM!"

"So we get a room!"

"Ugh! Fine!" Maddy laid on the dramatics just to hear Lyssa laugh. "I'll get the room for two nights so we can get in and spend the whole day being idiots."

Lyssa was quiet for a moment. "We should get Primanti's for dinner."

"Hell yeah, we're getting Primanti's!" Frowning, Maddy grabbed a piece of paper to take notes. "Can you take off for that?"

"If not, I'll quit." Lyssa laughed. "Not like I really need this piece of shit job, anyway."

After they hung up, Maddy reserved a room at the Omni hotel, already anticipating having drinks in the restored speakeasy they kept downstairs.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Baron growled as he stormed around his apartment shoving clothes and toiletries into his luggage as Corey tried to calm him down and Angie snuck articles out to fold and repack correctly. It had been nearly a solid month since the woman he knew to be his mate had left Florida to check into Sheltering Pines. That meant that she had to have left and returned to home, wherever that may be.

"It's been a fuckin' month, man!" The entire dresser rattled as he slammed a drawer. "She's out there. Alone. And probably wondering where the hell her true mate is and why I haven't come for her yet!"

"With you getting the call up to the main roster, at least-"

"At least what?!" Baron interrupted. "I've got two days a week off to come home and try to find her."

"Maybe you don't have to." Angie cleared her throat and stepped between the two Alphas.

"What?" Baron fought against frowning at her. It wasn't a good idea to show hostility toward another Alpha's mate.

"Well, a lot of people watch wrestling, and literally thousands go to the television tapings. Maybe she will too." Angie shrugged. "Besides, Florida is the one place we know she isn't."

"Okay." Baron blinked twice before nodding. "Okay, yeah. And I can take time in between shows looking around on my own instead of always coming home. Costs more to fly all the time than it does to drive, anyway."

Corey nodded along, fully on board with this plan. "And I remember what she smelled like, so I'll see if I can't scent something when we're out doing NXT stuff."

"It's still a long shot, man." Baron sighed and slumped down on the corner of his bed.

Corey nodded and chewed at his lip for a moment before smirking. "What did Brandy say when you told her you were done?"

Baron chuckled mirthlessly. "Oh, man, she's so pissed."

"Why?" Angie frowned and handed Baron a wad of t-shirts to refold as she went about repacking his suitcase neatly. "I thought it was just a sex thing to blow off steam?"

"Oh, it was. I made that crystal clear from the beginning." Baron obediently folded the shirts and took over organizing his things. "Alphas just have issues admitting that they aren't the end all/be all of whatever situation. She's petitioning me to keep her on."

"How would that even work once you find your mate, though? I mean, an Alpha/Omega pairing leaves no room for a third once the bond has been cemented."

"Yeah, I think she wants to keep that from happening."

Angie's face was a mask of revulsion. "Why would she want to do that?! Without it, neither of you would ever feel complete!"

"But Brandy couldn't care less about any of that, Angie. She just sees me advancing and bringing in that money, and loves what I do in bed."

Corey shook his head. "Selfish bitch."

"Wait!" Angie shot up from her spot on the bed, rushing to her bag by the front door. "I forgot about the news!"

"What news?" Corey questioned his wifemate and Baron wore a matching look of confusion.

"I went through the obituaries, right? To see if I could find one for a woman that listed a daughter. But, the waitress at the diner made it sound like the girl wasn't all that close to her mother and that the woman died suddenly, so maybe there wasn't an obituary at all."

Corey grinned. "But there might have been a story about it!"

Angie spent the rest of the visit taking down notes as the three brainstormed around Baron packing, trying to make sure he had enough extra clothes. He sent a prayer out to whatever power might be listening that he would find her soon. The thought of her out there in the world all alone and searching for him was nearly too much for him to endure.